Gameday is here and it is the Saints who will be traveling to Candlestick Park to take on the second seeded 49ers. These two teams have quite the history as they used to be in the same division. I always remember growing up hating the 49ers but I think the hatred came from the 49ers always beating them and playing for Super Bowls. Hopefully today’s game the roles will be reversed with the Saints picking up the win and here are 5 things I will be watching for in today’s game.
1. What about the 49ers have surprised me this season?
I look at two things that have stood out this season for me when I look at the 49ers this season. The record when the 49ers go out east is one and how fast Coach Harbaugh has turned this team into a playoff caliber team. San Francisco has bucked the trend that teams traveling from one coast to the other usually lost that week but San Francisco went 4-1 (used both central and eastern time zone), a mark of a good football team. I was also impressed with how fast Coach Harbaugh turned this team around considering the short offseason.
2. Can the 49ers win if the Saints shut down the 49ers running game?
This is the type of a game that the Saints signed Aubrayo Franklin and Shaun Rogers for in the offseason: to stop the opposing teams running game. I highly doubt the Saints will completely shut down the running game but it would not surprise me if Coach Williams came in with the same gameplan he did as the 2009 NFC Championship game telling the 49ers you will not beat us by running the ball. The only way the 49ers can win a game without their regular rushing input is to play field position, force turnovers and try to slow the Saints down a little. I just don’t see how the 49ers can slow Drew and company down as they will put points on the board so the 49ers passing attack will be under the microscope in this game.
3. Is it true the Saints have never won a road playoff game?
It is a fact the Saints are winless on the road in the playoffs. You also have to remember the long rich and storied playoff tradition of the Saints as most of these losses have come in the cold weather. I think this team has the makeup to put that first road win next to the many accomplishments it has achieved so far this season.
4. Can the Saints offense win an ugly game?
By “ugly game”, I am mostly talking about turnovers, penalties and lack of third down conversations. I think the Saints should keep both the turnovers and penalties at a minimum in this game as this could lead to easy points for the 49ers. The Saints should not have a problem converting third down as they are the best in the league at 57 percent. If the Saints are to win an ugly game they will need a good game out of the offensive line protecting Drew and getting some kind of running game will be key also helping offset the 49ers’ pass rush.
5. Who will have to step up for the Saints in today’s game?
This late in the season, the Saints are playing some of their best ball. So while I won’t single anybody out for not playing up to par, I will say the unit that has been good but needs to play great in today’s game is the receiving core. It is different catching the ball in the dome as they will have to contend with the wind of Candlestick Park. I think the receivers will play great as there will be plenty of opportunities to make play against the 49ers secondary.
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